West Seattle, Washington
12 Friday
Just before sunset, one final solemn ceremony on this Veterans Day: Scout Troop 375, based in Burien, came to Alki for a formal flag-retirement ceremony. More than two dozen people joined them.
With flames and Taps, as per tradition, the flag was taken out of service.
The troop and Scoutmaster Mark Ufkes had invited community members to bring flags for a future retirement event; some did. (No date set yet.)
(WSB photo added 8:37 pm)
7:26 PM: Seattle Police say (via scanner) they’re closing Admiral Way between 47th and 49th after a vehicle hit a pole. No word of serious injuries, but “the pole is ready to come down,” one officer warned. More to come.
7:53 PM: Seattle City Light is on scene. The impact actually detached the pole at its base; no word how long the road will be closed. The driver apparently was not seriously hurt, but was being questioned by police.
11:29 PM: Still closed, per commenters.
Yet more updates on West Seattle development plans – this time, focused around the Design Review process:
3078 AVALON WAY ‘PACKET’ FOR NEXT DESIGN REVIEW: As reported here last month, 3078 SW Avalon Way goes back to the Southwest Design Review Board on November 21st, more than a year after its Early Design Guidance meeting (WSB coverage here). Today’s update is that the “packet” containing the newest plan for this ~100-apartment, ~60-parking-space project is now available online. Its text notes that the adjacent, almost identical project (3062 Avalon) has been canceled:
Soon after the September 13 [2012] EDG meeting, Caron Architecture was approached to design a second building on the three parcels to the north of this project. That project under DPD # 3014100, was slated to be designed concurrently with this proposal, 3013303. The schedule for this proposed project was slightly delayed so the two project schedules could synchronized. Both MUP sets were submitted within weeks of each other but the buildings were placed on hold by the owners during the MUP review period due to a myriad of factors, and the application for the other project was eventually cancelled. The decision was made late summer to continue the moving forward with this project only. Comments and concerns raised through the design review process for both buildings have been incorporated into this design, although only the EDG report for this project is specifically addressed in this presentation.
The review of 3078 SW Avalon Way is at 8 pm Thursday, November 21st, at the Senior Center of West Seattle, right after the 6:30 pm review of 3210 California SW (the meeting “packet” for that project is not yet available).
4535 44TH SW DESIGN REVIEW: Since our report that the city has scheduled a special public-comment meeting November 19th after being petitioned by neighbors concerned about this 36-unit, no-parking project in The Junction, there’s yet another date set: It’s going back before the SW Design Review Boardat 6:30 pm December 5th, also at the Senior Center of WS. The formal notice isn’t out yet but it’s listed on the city schedule. (Here’s our coverage of its previous SWDRB review back in May.)
3400 SW GRAHAM DESIGN REVIEW, BUT NO MEETING: We reported two weeks ago about the new development proposal for part of High Point’s long-in-flux site at 35th/Graham – 36 townhouses, 9 single-family houses. It is now scheduled for Administrative Design Review – which means no public meeting, but public comments will be accepted. The formal notice is scheduled to go out this Thursday, with comments accepted until November 27th. If you want to comment before that, send yours to the city planner assigned to the project, Tami Garrett, at tami.garrett@seattle.gov.
Thanks to Arrowhead Gardens for inviting WSB to their Veterans Day observance, which featured an Honor Guard from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County. The Honor Guard brought and raised a flag:
The event included residents parading around the grounds to and from the flagpole:
Their commemoration also included a poetry reading.
(P.S. In case you wondered – we did! – here’s how to ask JBLM about providing visitors like these for an off-base event.)
If you haven’t taken the quick and easy online step of checking to see whether your ballot from last week’s election was received and validated, you might consider doing it now. 
You’ve probably heard that one City Council contest has narrowed dramatically since the original Election Night count – Position 2 incumbent Richard Conlin and challenger Kshama Sawant are now 1,237 votes apart, – and the ballot-counting isn’t over yet, so it could come down to a handful of votes.
Both campaigns have suggested that while we await the next round of ballot totals tomorrow, you check to make sure your ballot has been counted. It can get lost on its way to Elections HQ; one West Seattleite tells us his was dropped into a box at the Junction post office on Election Day – but came back marked “return to sender.” He contacted King County Elections and received an e-mail reply explaining that he needed to bring it in ASAP; the reply included, “We have heard of this happening to other voters …” Other things that can go awry include the possibility your signature wasn’t validated (happened to us a couple elections ago). Don’t wait to see if yours turns up back on your doorstep. Just go here – it’s really quick.
On this day during which we honor those who have served – a nod also to those who supported their efforts back home, including the women who became known during World War II as “Rosie the Riveters.” Five years ago, West Seattle “Rosies” had their first meeting. 
Then, this past September, we reported organizer Georgie Bright Kunkel‘s search for more “Rosies”; today, we’re publishing her update:
The Rosie the Riveter group in West Seattle is up and running again. The announcement in the blog brought several new Rosies forward. Since not all Rosies are computer-techie, their offspring might have to reply. So if your mother was a Rosie the Riveter during WWII, please contact Georgie Bright Kunkel at 206-935-8663 for more information. Or e-mail gnkunkel@comcast.net.
*On Thursday, Metro went public with details on how it might cut bus routes if two types of funding that expire next year aren’t replaced (WSB coverage here).
*On Saturday, state legislators finished their latest special session with no action on transportation funding.
*Tomorrow (Tuesday), you can do something about it – join forces with the West Seattle Transportation Coalition. WSTC – an all-volunteer, grass-roots, not-government-affiliated group – has just announced its agenda, focused on organizing members into subgroups to take on specific aspects of the work of advocating for our area’s transportation needs. See the agenda here, and be there to help make it happen, 6:30 pm tomorrow at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW).
(SDOT camera view of West Seattle Bridge, looking west; more area cams here)
This morning, we’re combining our usual traffic/transit watch with our daily calendar preview, and mixing in the “what’s changed for the holiday” info:
TRAFFIC NOTES: Highway 99 is open again after a weekend closure that ended around 9 pm Sunday; at the Fauntleroy ferry dock, the holding lane north of the terminal will be closed today because of Barton Pump Station Upgrade work next door: “A large drill rig will be parked in the holding lane for most of the day, and a police officer will be directing traffic around the construction activities,” says the advisory.
TRANSIT NOTES: Metro is on the “reduced weekday” schedule (some routes aren’t running at all); the West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxis are not running today; Sound Transit and Washington State Ferries, however, are on regular weekday schedules.
PARKING PAY-STATION/METERS: If you’re going to an area of the city with on-street paid parking – it’s free today.
TRASH/RECYCLING/YARD WASTE: Regular schedule for Seattle Public Utilities, both pickup and transfer stations.
SCHOOLS: Closed.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: All facilities closed.
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: No delivery; post offices closed.
FOR VETERANS: Writer David Nelson has again compiled his citywide freebies list (with four West Seattle items). Also, Center Studio (WSB sponsor) at 9611 16th SW in White Center is offering a free class for veterans at 5:45 pm.
Also happening today/tonight:
‘GIRL RISING’: Still some tickets left for the 4 pm screening at Admiral Theater, according to the online-sales page linked in our original story. (2343 California SW)
FLAG-RETIREMENT CEREMONY: 4 pm with Scout Troop 375 on Alki Beach across from Duke’s; details are in our Sunday story.
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: The NDNC meeting is now permanently moved to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, room 103, starting at 6:30 pm on second Mondays. Tonight’s announced agenda:
Election of 2014 officers
Bylaws change – length of officer terms
DESC building name
Greenbelt encampments
Neighborhood clean-up
Announcements
Youngstown is at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
Washed up seastars at Brace Point, near Seattle Washington from Laura James on Vimeo.
That video was just shared by West Seattle environmental advocate/photographer “Diver Laura” James, who reports counting more than 100 dead sea stars in the Brace Point area near Fauntleroy this weekend. We also received a called-in report late yesterday of dead sea stars (starfish) seen near Colman Pool on the Lincoln Park shoreline, but had not been able to get there at low tide to verify. There have been numerous reports of starfish die-offs in recent weeks, from this KING 5 story to a national report via NBC News. But there’s no way to know, so far, if this is connected, nor have scientists definitively linked other die-offs to any sort of common condition.
P.S. Laura will be at The Whale Trail‘s orca talk at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) this Tuesday night, on behalf of Tox-Ick.org; if you haven’t already bought a ticket, though, please note that TWT’s Donna Sandstrom has announced the event is sold out, so no tickets at the door.
Just in from WSDOT: Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct is open again, after a weekend of work on the new S. Atlantic Street overpass. The reopening was eight hours earlier than projected.
1:15 AM NOTE: As of 1 am, the “Viaduct Closed When Flashing” lights on signs in West Seattle and on the bridge were still flashing. But we drove 99 and it really is open.
According to the Seattle Police crime map, 13 burglaries have been reported in West Seattle in the past week. Tonight, we’ve heard from a victim in one of the two most recent – newlywed Kathryn, who lives near 35th and 100th in Arbor Heights:
On Friday night between 4 pm and 10:30 pm, our house was broken into and burglarized. The door was kicked in; they didn’t touch anything in the living room and went straight for the bedroom. They found our safe and took $1500 cash that we had received from friends and family at our recent wedding (Sept. 29th) plus more in gift cards. They also stole my 17″ Toshiba laptop and my white iPad 4, 3 bottles of wine, and that’s it.
The police that came to the scene said they felt like it was someone who knew us, because they knew right where to look and left (other valuables). So we feel fortunate for that. We thought the West Seattle Blog should be notified, and if anyone hears of someone trying to sell the laptop or iPad, to contact the police ! I have serial number for both if that’s helpful.
Arbor Heights was not a hot spot this past week; in addition to this, only one other break-in is shown on the map – Monday near California/100th.
The renovated main hall was already candlelit when we took that photo just before the doors opened for tonight’s free dinner for veterans (and active-duty, reserve, retired servicepeople) and their families at the West Seattle Veterans’ Center. American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary members are cooking up the gourmet Italian dinner and took a quick photo-op break at our request:
As part of tonight’s dinner, a conference room at the Veterans’ Center/Post 160 is being dedicated in honor of Doris Gross, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and trailblazing Legion leader, first woman to be a statewide commander among other achievements (here’s a 2010 story about her). This portrait of her was unveiled tonight:
Dinner is being served at the WSVC (3618 SW Alaska) until 8 pm – just show up!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier this year, WSB started a series of stories about independent local businesses and why they matter more to a community like ours than you might realize. Then, the “West Seattle: We Have That” campaign launched at midsummer. Now, we’re continuing to publish stories as part of the series – and inviting you into the conversation. Many of the reports, including this one and the one we published four weeks ago, are being underwritten by the West Seattle Junction Association, but not as ads – it’s their contribution to an issue of importance from Alki to Westwood, Fauntleroy to Highland Park, and all over WS.
By Keith Creighton
Special to West Seattle Blog
This past month, my wife and I moved from a hill atop Morgan to that same hill a mile south in Gatewood. One of the biggest considerations we faced was trading more space for less view and giving up the easy walk to the Morgan and Alaska Junctions.
We’re not the only family facing big changes in West Seattle.
How will the surge of demolition and construction (California/Alaska, above), store closures/moves (Sweetie, Coffee to a Tea, Alki Arts) and chain introductions (including Fatburger on Alki and plans for Whole Foods Market, LA Fitness) affect the values of your home and the quality of your life? I asked several Junction-area residents and real estate pros to share their expertise:
√ Dawn Leverett of Windermere Real Estate
√ Katie Hildebrand and Kirsten Donovan of The Usonia Group/Keller Williams Realty
√ Jill Campbell of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate
Can you put a price tag on the concept of walkability? What will happen if the big chains push mom and pop shops out of West Seattle? Is White Center becoming the new West Seattle? Read what the pros have to say and weigh in with your comments.
Another Veterans Day event in West Seattle, and you are invited. From Troop 375 Scoutmaster Mark Ufkes:
Boy Scout Troop 375, chartered by Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, will be holding an American flag retirement ceremony on Monday, Veterans Day, November 11, at 4 pm on Alki Beach in West Seattle (across from Duke’s restaurant).
We will provide a final color guard to an American flag that requires respectful retirement. Scouts will read statements about the history of our flag, honor attending veterans, play taps, and respectfully incinerate the flag in a proper and affirming manner. The public is welcome to attend. The ceremony will last about 15 minutes.
West Seattle, White Center and Burien families who have old American flags that need respectful retirement, are encouraged to bring their flags to the event and our scouts will collect them, and arrange a second ceremony later this winter to retire the collected flags. Families who bring worn or torn flags are asked to consider contributing $20 to our troop’s Scout Jamboree travel fund, but it is not mandatory. Respectfully retiring old and tattered flags is our priority.
HOTWIRE HISTORY, THE FOLLOWUP: Banish the gloom with the history-making “light bar” at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) – now up and running. As first reported here last month, and shown in several citywide-media reports since then, Hotwire has installed full-spectrum lights, to set up the city’s first “light bar.” See them – and bask in the glow – next time you’re at the coffeehouse next to The Junction’s post office, 4410 California SW.
BANK CHANGEOVER DATE SET: Also in The Junction, the date is set for the official transition of AmericanWest Bank (4022 SW Alaska) to HomeStreet Bank. We reported back in July that the change was on the way; a company spokesperson tells us the bank’s first day as HomeStreet will be December 9th, and the signage will be changed a day or two beforehand.
EQUILIBRIUM FITNESS MOVE: This business is leaving The Junction; November 14 is the date that the fitness studio expects to open its new location at 3270 California. Signs are already up; the storefront was previously Cloud City Skateboard Shop, which closed quietly a few months ago.
CARTER’S COMING TO WESTWOOD? According to city-permit records, the Carter’s chain of children’s-clothing shops is planning a location at Westwood Village. No date or other information; we have an inquiry out to the company.
TONY’S PRODUCE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON: Also in Westwood, in case you hadn’t already noticed from passing by – Tony’s produce stand at 35th/Barton is closed for its fall break before reopening with Christmas trees later this month.
SPEAKING OF CHRISTMAS TREES: Son-in-Law Tree Farm, most recently in the former Charlestown Caf̩ parking lot, plans a new West Seattle location this year Рon Alki Beach, on the lot that holds Wheel Fun Rentals during the summer season, 2532 Alki SW, opening the day after Thanksgiving, November 29th. (Any other new tree lots/locations? Let us know for the WSB Holiday Guide, which is in the works right now.)
AND THE WINNERS ARE … Congratulations to local winners and runners-up in KING 5’s Best of Western Washington. The 200-plus-categories winners’ list is now online; reviewing it for locals, we see Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) as Best Gourmet Grocery, Salty’s (WSB sponsor) for Best Seafood, Best Brunch, and Best Outdoor Dining, Easy Street Records for Best Records/CDs, Bakery Nouveau as Best Bakery, and WSB, fourth year in a row – we never ask for votes, so we are especially grateful to get them. Congrats to all! P.S. West Seattle had one non-business winner too … Alki Beach was voted Best Pickup Place.
All 6th, 7th, and 8th graders – whether in public school, private school, or homeschooled/unschooled – are invited to join in a Reading Marathon next Saturday. It’s happening at six Seattle Public Library branches around the city, including the Southwest Branch here in West Seattle. Teen-services librarian Cheresse Thoeny shares the announcement:
What is the Reading Marathon? Your chance to read for six straight hours at a Seattle Public Library branch.
Why would I want to do that?
· For every hour you read, you’ll receive a prize. Read all six hours and you might win a fabulous grand prize!
· If students from your school read the most total hours, your school receives the Reading Marathon Champions banner—and bragging rights.
· There will be plenty of free snacks and pizza will be served.
· You can bring a pillow, bean bag, or anything else to make things comfy.
· You can read anything you want (book, e-book, magazine, comic, etc.) as long as you read it silently. (What about audiobooks? Check with a librarian ahead of time.)
To join in, just show up at the Southwest Branch Library (35th and Henderson) between 11 am and 5 pm next Saturday (November 16th).
(Hawk and crow in Lincoln Park, photographed recently by Trileigh Tucker)
ROXHILL BOG: Get over to the bog on the south side of Roxhill Park right now (Sunday morning) and join the work party; details in our calendar.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always, Sundays year-round – if you haven’t been lately, check out the ever-expanding variety. (44th/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: On the playfield at High Point, 11 am, just show up. (31st/Myrtle)
‘MEDICINE SONGS FROM THE TIME OF CHIEF SEATTLE’: Join native storyteller Johnny Moses at the Duwamish Longhouse, 1 pm; details in our calendar listing. (4705 West Marginal Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE BOARD GAMES: Drop by the meetup 1-7 pm at Uptown Espresso in The Junction for “Intro to Euro Games”; details in our calendar listing. (Edmunds/Erskine/California)
ART PICKUP AT SOUTHWEST LIBRARY: The Community Art Showcase at Southwest Branch Library has ended and artists who participated are reminded to pick up their art today or Tuesday (the libraries are closed tomorrow for Veterans Day). And the library says THANK YOU!
The collage above is from the reception last weekend. (35th/Henderson)
THREE SHORT PLAYS ABOUT SHAKESPEARE: Second and final presentation of three 1-acts by the Seattle Lutheran High School Drama Club, 2:30 pm in Menashe Gym on campus; details in our calendar listing. (4100 SW Genesee)
FREE CONCERT: Ladies Musical Club performs vocal and piano music at the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library, 3 pm, more info here. (2306 42nd SW)
VETERANS DAY DINNER: 5-8 pm, free gourmet Italian dinner for those who have served or are serving – veterans, active duty, retired, National Guard, reserve, as noted on the official flyer. West Seattle Veterans’ Center in the historic American Legion Post 160. (3618 SW Alaska)
BINGO BENEFIT FOR WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: “Booze, Balls, and Bingo” at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7:30 tonight, is more than a bawdy round of drag bingo – it’s a benefit for the WS Food Bank, which is now more in need of your help than ever, with federal cuts to food stamps. Bring money, bring non-perishable food donations, have fun. (6451 California SW)
Congratulations to West Seattle High School sophomore Gabby Carufel, who qualified Saturday night for 3A state competition in the 100-yard backstroke. The report and photo are from Gabby’s proud mom Danette Carufel. The girls’ championships begin Friday night with preliminaries at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) is adding another bachelor’s-degree program as of next year. Here’s the announcement:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges recently approved a new baccalaureate of applied science (BAS) degree in Sustainable Science Technology that will be offered at South Seattle Community College in the fall of 2014.
In response to industry demand, the primary purpose of this program is to provide students with the skills needed to run an energy-efficient facility.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A big year for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society culminated in a full house at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) today – celebrating and hearing about the past, and raising more than $37,000 to help continue the organization’s work into the future.
With executive director Clay Eals emceeing the event near the end of his first year leading SWSHS, the Champagne Gala Luncheon pulsed with attention-drawing events-within-an-event, from silent auction, to special guest speaker Dave Beck, to the inspirational speakers from the deep-rooted Hallberg family.
The nearly 200 people on hand included a long list of West Seattle luminaries, from entrepreneurs to civic activists to politicians present and past, including City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and former Mayor Greg Nickels – but you didn’t have to have a famous name to be part of the “tapestry.”
The fundraising total came from not only tickets to the event and the silent auction, but also from a raffle, dessert dash, and special Fund-a-Dream cash-donation round.
It was more than a party – it was also a chance to gain knowledge, including a surprise declaration regarding the fate of the Alki Homestead:
The state Legislature’s latest special session is over on its third day – and still no transportation-money deal, despite high-profile pleas like the one County Executive Dow Constantine headed south to make after warning again of the major Metro cuts that loom if funding isn’t found (Thursday WSB coverage here). The Legislature did approve breaks for Boeing meant to keep that company from building the 777X elsewhere; asked about transportation at a briefing minutes ago, the governor said he would call legislators back “if we have an agreement [on a transportation bill] by November 21st.” If not? Metro moves closer to setting the wheels in motion for making those cuts next year.
First came the scrawled comment on the signboard that wasn’t up yet when we first reported on a south Morgan Junction project that includes a 30-apartment, no-parking-space building:
Now there’s a printed, taped-up sheet with a more eloquent plea to the passerby, and a response to the scrawler, starting, “Sadly, they are not kidding”:
To be specific, as a commenter reminded readers on a separate development story published here last night, the deadline for commenting on the 6917 California SW proposal is five days away – Wednesday, November 13th (unless someone has asked the city for the two-week extension that’s usually available by request).
Since we broke the news of this proposed project in mid-October, most attention has been focused on the apartment building; as we noted then, six additional housing units are planned on the two lots north of the site, all of which have descriptions/preliminary listings online:
*Townhouse A at 6911 California SW
*Townhouse B at 6911 California SW
*Townhouse C at 6911 California SW
*Townhouse D at 6911 California SW
*Single-family home at 6913 California SW
*Single-family home at 6915 California SW
The 36 total units are proposed for three lots on which three old homes currently sit, the second, third, and fourth north of the northwest corner of California and Mills. To comment on the proposal, follow the instructions on the official notice; separate comments would be needed to mention the other parts of the project, including the lot-boundary adjustment proposed to outline the sites of the three components.
(More development updates later.)
An exciting celebration at Holy Rosary School on Friday – the prize presentation for its winning student billboard artist!
This all goes back to June, when we published the art created by the finalists in the Franciscan Health System (WSB sponsor; formerly Highline) contest after they invited local students to write and illustrate healthy-living tips, with the winner to be put up on a billboard alongside the West Seattle Bridge. The winner was Holy Rosary student Audrey Kline (at center in our photo above, with HR’s Father John Madigan and the other HR finalists in the contest). In case you missed seeing Audrey’s art on the billboard, here it is again:
Audrey’s win was announced in September (WSB coverage here); then on Friday, Franciscan Health System leaders came to Holy Rosary to present the other part of the prize – a $500 grant for health education at the school.
P.S. Back in September, after the event announcing the winning billboard, we had first word of Franciscan’s plan to move its Roxbury clinic to Westwood Village. We learned yesterday that they are aiming for an opening date in mid-December.
| 1 COMMENT